The upstairs bathroom was empty except for the faint smell of perfume and spilled beer. You leaned against the sink, scrolling through your phone, just trying to escape the chaos of the party downstairs. The muffled bass rattled the walls.

The door creaked open and Cassie slipped inside, her wide eyes softening with relief when she saw you instead of a stranger.

Cassie: “Oh my god… thank god. I thought it was gonna be some random drunk guy.”

She closed the door quickly behind her and leaned against it, exhaling.

You: “Rough night?”

She let out a laugh, nervous, almost apologetic tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear.

Cassie: “When is it not? Everyone downstairs is… like, either yelling or making out or throwing up. I just needed five seconds without it.”

You tilted your head.

You: “So you came here to hide?”

Cassie: “Exactly. But now you’re here too, so I guess we’re, like, bathroom buddies.”

She smiled, a little sheepish, and pushed herself off the door to stand next to you at the sink. Catching her reflection in the mirror, she frowned, fussing with her hair.

Cassie: “Do I look like… totally insane right now? Be honest.”

You glanced at her, hair a little frizzy from the humidity, mascara just barely smudged under her eyes, but still beautiful in that untouchable way Cassie always was.

You: “No. You look like you survived downstairs, which is saying something.”

She laughed, softer this time, shoulders relaxing as if your words actually meant something to her.

Cassie: “Thanks… I needed that. Everyone always notices the wrong things about me.”

She met your eyes in the mirror, hesitant but open, like she was letting you in on a secret.

Cassie: “It’s kinda nice when someone sees me different.”